Some Logical Fallacies

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1 Some Logical FallaciesFallacies are standard forms of flawed reasoning that seduce and often persuade us, but that are not logically sound and will lead to faulty conclusions.

2 Some Logical FallaciesFalse Dilemma (Hobson’s Choice)The arguer claims that there are only two options and one is unacceptable so we must accept the other. However in actuality there are other alternatives.Either we ban negative ads or we let them run amok on our television stations.“Either the Saudis control the US government, or they don’t” – Chris HitchensIf Guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.Daisy Girl Ad

3 Some Logical FallaciesStraw manThe arguer makes her own position appear stronger by misrepresenting her opponent’s position.Mr. Goldberg has argued against prayer in public schools. Obviously Mr. Goldberg advocates atheism. But atheism is what they used to have in Russia. Atheism leads to the suppression of all religions and the replacement of God by an omnipotent state. Is that what we want for this country? I hardly think so. Clearly Mr. Goldberg’s argument is nonsense.Is this really what Goldberg was arguing. Almost certainly not.

4 Some Logical FallaciesSlippery SlopeThe arguer states that given a series of cases 1,2,3...n and given that the differences between each case is insignificant, the difference between any two of the cases is insignificant. Here the arguer fails to realize that insignificant differences, when added up can make for a significant difference.

5 Some Logical FallaciesSlippery Slope ExampleAttempts to outlaw pornography threaten basic civil rights and should be summarily abandoned. If pornography is outlawed, censorship of newspapers and news magazines ins only a short step away. After that there will be censorship of textbooks, political speeches, and the content of lectures by university professors. Complete mind control by the central government will be the inevitable result.

6 Some Logical FallaciesSlippery Slope ExampleThe government is thinking of keeping serious sex offenders behind bars to protect the public, next thing, we’ll be keeping those convicted of manslaughter indefinitely. This will inexorably lead us to a police state where the six year old who steals a piece of bubble gum will wind up in jail and society will throw away the key.We cannot wait for certainty about WMD because our answer might come in the form of a mushroom cloud. (Condoleeza Rice)

7 Some Logical FallaciesHasty GeneralizationAny argument that draws a generalization based on a small or unrepresentative sample size.75% of the people who responded to our Poll via have some college education, so 75% of all Americans have some college education.You can't speak French; I can't; =>no one at FLC can

8 Some Logical FallaciesAccident: when a general rule is inappropriately applied to a specific case.Freedom of speech is a constitutionally guaranteed right. Therefore, John Q. Radical should not be arrested for his speech that incited the riot last week.Problematic because there are almost no absolutes: “Thou shalt not kill” except in self defense or in service of your country, etc.

9 Some Logical FallaciesMissing the PointWhen the premise of an argument supports a particular conclusion, but then a different, often vaguely related conclusion is drawn.Crimes of theft and robbery have been increasing at an alarming rate. The conclusion is obvious: we must reinstate the death penalty immediately.

10 Some Logical FallaciesRed Herring: When the arguer changes the subject and take the listener down a different, unrelated path.Environmentalists are continually harping about the dangers of nuclear power. Unfortunately, electricity is dangerous no matter where it comes from. Every year hundreds of people are electrocuted by accident. Since most of the accidents are caused by carelessness, they could be avoided if people would just exercise greater caution.

11 Some Logical FallaciesAffirming the ConsequentAny argument with the invalid structure of: If A then B. B, therefore A.If I get a B on the test, then I will have passed. I passed the test, so it follows that I must have received a B.

12 Some Logical FallaciesDenying the AntecedentAny argument with the invalid structure of: If A then B. Not A, therefore not B.If it’s a dog then it’s a mammal. It’s not a dog, so it must not be a mammal.

13 Some Logical FallaciesEquivocationThe arguer shifts the meaning of a term or phrase from one premise to the next.Insane people are considered not responsible for their actions. Your poor driving habits show a serious lack of responsibility, so you must be insane.Every society is, of course, repressive to some extent - as Sigmund Freud pointed out, repression is the price we pay for civilization.That kid’s a little terror! I hope he doesn’t fly planes into buildings some day!

14 Some Logical FallaciesBegging the QuestionThe arguer supports the conclusion simply by restating it as a premise or by leaving out a key premise.I know she loves me because she told me so, and you don’t lie to someone you love.God exists because the Bible says that he does. We all know that the Bible is accurate because it was written by inspired men, men inspired by God to write down his words.Whatever is less dense than water will float, because such objects won't sink in water.Murder is morally wrong. This being the case, it follows that abortion is morally wrong.

15 Some Logical FallaciesAppeals to force/fearThe arguer tries to get you to accept their view on the grounds that you will be harmed if you don’t. They use attempt to motivate you from fear rather than logically persuade you.So you’re an animal rights activist. I’d consider changing my views if I were you because most of us here on the prairies are beef farmers and we don’t care too much for your kind.Willie Horton Ad

16 Some Logical FallaciesAppeals to pity (Ad Misericordium)The arguer tries to get you to accept their view on the grounds that they will be harmed if you don’t.I really need you to give me an A in this course. I know I didn’t do that well, but an average grade will bring my grade point average down.Just do as I ask before you give me a heart attack!

17 Some Logical FallaciesPrejudicial languageThe arguer uses biased language (either positive or negative) to support their views rather than offering evidence.We should offer our support to Haiti because they are a backward nation and thus require guidance from a progressive country like ours.

19 Some Logical FallaciesFaulty appeal to authorityThe arguer appeals to an authority who’s area of expertise is irrelevant to the issue at hand, or appeals to a person who is famous but not an expert.Madonna is against animal testing. So animal testing is probably an unethical practice.Noted psychologist Dr. Frasier Crane recommends that you buy the EZ-Rest Hot Tub.

20 Some Logical FallaciesFallacy of ExclusionImportant evidence which would undermine an argument is excluded from consideration. The requirement that all relevant information be included is called the "principle of total evidence".Jones is a Coloradoan, and most Coloradoans vote Republican, so Jones will probably vote Republican. (The information left out is that Jones lives in Durango, and that most people in Durango vote Democrat)The Rockies will probably win this game because they've won nine out of their last ten. (Eight of the Rockies’ wins came over last place teams, and today they are playing the first place team.)

21 Some Logical FallaciesConfusions of Part and Whole:A. Composition Fallacy. Because the parts of a whole have a certain property, it is argued that the whole has that property.Conventional bombs did more damage in W.W. II than nuclear bombs. Thus, a conventional bomb is more dangerous than a nuclear bomb.B. Ecological Fallacy. Because the whole has a certain property, it is argued that the parts have that property.Jews vote Democratic. So, Ismael must also vote Democratic.

22 Some Logical FallaciesAd hominem attack (Poisoning the well)The arguer suggests that her opponent’s view is unacceptable because of some negative character trait. Attack the person rather than the argument.People who say that hazing in the military is wrong are just a bunch of wimps.He’s a liar so there’s no reason to listen to him.…But Ginsberg’s arguments are nothing but trash. Ginsberg was a marijuana-smoking homosexual and a thoroughgoing advocate of the drug culture….Humphrey Ad

23 Some Logical FallaciesAd hominem : circumstantialThe arguer suggests that her opponent’s view is false because the opponent has something personal to gain if it is accepted.Of course France opposed the war on Iraq; they’ve got millions of dollars of contracts at stake.We should disregard that scientist’s argument because they are being funded by the logging industry.

24 Some Logical FallaciesAd hominem :: tu quoque (‘You too’)The arguer suggests that her opponent’s position is inconsistent with their own beliefs or actions and therefore the position is false.You’re telling me to stop speeding on the highway? You’ve received more speeding tickets than I have.Gore is a hypocrite on Campaign finance issues – he’s raised as much money as anyone.You say I shouldn't drink, but you haven't been sober for more than a year.

25 Some Logical FallaciesGuilt by AssociationThe arguer suggests her opponent’s views should be rejected because the opponent is a member of a perceived disreputable group or the views of the opponent are also held by persons of a disreputable group.Nationalized health care programs are unacceptable because they are the sort of thing that Communists support.There’s no reason to deal with Arafat. He’s a known terrorist.Politician X once spoke with the leader of the KKK.

26 Some Logical FallaciesAppeal to numbers/popularityThe arguer appeals to the sheer number of persons who agree with the belief or to the popularity of the belief as evidence that it is true.Because a majority of Americans believe in UFO’s, they must exist! That many people can’t be wrong!4 out of 5 dentists recommend brushing with pure cane sugar.

27 Some Logical FallaciesAppeal to vanityTying an idea to a popular person or valueThe few, the proud, the marinesBe all you can beAppeal to snobberyIf you qualify as one of the select few, this distinguished car can be seen and driven at….

28 Some Logical FallaciesTwo wrongs make a rightThe arguer appeals to consistency stating that a wrong action/belief should be accepted on the basis that another similar wrong action/belief was accepted.Joe shouldn’t be prosecuted for that crime. Many other people do it and get away with it.Who care’s about Clinton’s affairs. All the other presidents have done it.

29 Some Logical FallaciesAppeal to IgnoranceThe arguer uses the fact that a proposition has not been disproven as evidence that the proposition is true, or if it has not been proven, that it is false.People have been trying for centuries to provide conclusive evidence that astrology doesn’t work. But they haven’t. Therefore, we must conclude that the claims of astrology are true.You haven’t disproven that Mossad wasn’t involved in 9/11, which suggests they almost surely were.Since you cannot prove that ghosts do not exist, they probably exist.Since scientists cannot prove that global warming will occur, it probably won't.

30 Some Logical FallaciesAppeal to TraditionThe arguer bases the acceptance of a position on the mere fact that they have always believed it or that it has always been accepted, that it is true.Although horrendous in our eyes, the burning of the wives of deceased men should be considered morally acceptable since the society in question has been doing it for centuries.

31 Some Logical FallaciesPost hoc ergo proctor hoc (‘after this, thereforebecause of this’)The arguer uses the fact that one thing happened before another as evidence that the first thing caused the second thing.Ever since we repainted the house I’ve been overly tired, it must mean I’m allergic to the paint.Let's not take Bill on our picnic; every time we take him it rains.The quality of education in our schools has been declining for years. Clearly, our teachers aren’t doing their jobs.

32 Some Logical FallaciesDicto simipliciter: argument based on an unqualified generalizationexercise is good; everyone should exercise

33 Some Logical FallaciesFalse Analogy: comparing situations that are differentStudents should look at textbooks during exams because lawyers have briefsIf we can put a man on the moon, we should be able to eliminate povertyHis/Her ideas sound a lot like what we saw in Nazi Germany…

34 Some Logical FallaciesHypothesis Contrary to the Fact: start with a hypothesis that's not true and draw conclusions from itIf Columbus had never found America, the Islanders would not have been decimated by disease.But, someone else would have later!?

35 Some Logical FallaciesDefinition too broad: The definition includes items that should not be includedAn apple is something that is red and round. The planet Mars is red and round. So it is included in the definition. But obviously it is not an apple.A figure is square if and only if it has four sides of equal length. (Not only squares have four sides of equal length; trapezoids do as well.)

36 Some Logical FallaciesDefinition too narrow: The definition does not include items which should be included.An apple is something that is red and round. (Golden Delicious are apples, however, they are not red. They are not included in the definition, however, they should be.)Something is music if and only if it is played on a piano. (A drum solo cannot be played on a piano, yet it is still considered music.)

37 Some Logical FallaciesComplex Question: Two otherwise unrelated points are illegitimately conjoined and treated as a single proposition. The reader is expected to accept or reject both together, when in reality they should be considered separately.You should support home education and the God-given right of parents to raise their children according to their own beliefs.Do you support freedom and the right to bear arms?Have you stopped shoplifting? (This asks two questions: did you shoplift, and did you stop?)

38 ExamplesDoby GillisWhat is the main lesson we should draw from Doby Gillis?

39 ResourcesHurley, Patrick J. A Concise Introduction to Logic. Wadsworth.(examples in political ads)

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